Post for free-standing partitions



. 1960 I w. H. BROCKWAY 2,963,131

POST FOR FREE-STANDING PARTITIONS Filed July 13, 1956 INVENTOR. WARREN H. BROCKWAY ATTORNEY tates mesne assignments, to Corry-Jamestown Manufacturing Corporation, a corporation of New York Filed July '13, 1956, SerfNo. 597,812 2 Claims. (31. ma-3s This invention relates to free-standin partitions and more particularly those partitions used to subdivide general brace areas and the like into smaller semi-private areas.

Thep'rincipal object of the invention is the provision dfa post usable in an integral part in a free-standing partition and to which post panels and associated structural members of the partition may be secured.

A further object of the invention is the provision of a partition'post that may be advantageously formed by "a'n'ext'ruding process.

' 'iAstill further 'obj'ectof the invention is the provision Esra post for a partition which incorporates wiring raceivays therein.

'A still further object of the invention is the provision of a "post for a'partition which provides four identical attachment areas along the outer surfaces thereof to permitlthe attachment'of one, two, three or four partition panels thereto, as desired.

, A still further object of the invention is the provision of a post for a partition which incorporates structural means for securing an adjustable foot member in longitiidinal alignment with the post whereby the partition may be leveled horizontally andat the same time-retain its structural qualities.

. I A still'further object of the invention is the provision of "apost for a partition which incorporates longitudinally extending substantially large channel areas in each of the sides thereoftogether with means for receiving fasteners and closure panels in closure-like relation to said channels.

Thepartiti'on post'disclosed herein comprises an improvement in the art of posts, particularly those used in so call'ed free-standing partitions which are themselves used in subdividing ofiice space and which generally incorporate partition panels positioned in spaced relation to' the floor andceiling and supported at longitudinal intervals by posts which engage the floor andextend above the tops of the panels and some times serve as frames forglass panels positioned above the partition panels themselves The problem of forming such free-standing partitions in ofliee areas includes the requirement that the partitions be readily assembled by semi-skilled labor and at the same time be readily disassembled so that they can be relocated from time to time as the ofiice requirements change.

It is further highly advantageous that the complete partition structure be prefabricated so that no' operations other than assembly are necessary at thepoint of installation.

The-"partition"post'disclosed herein meets the several objects of the invention in that it permits the ready attachment of partition "panels'to each of its sides and at the sain'e tinieprevia'es each of the sides with means for receiving closure strips so that the post can be used intermediate. a pair ofpartition panels or at an end of atnt 2,953,131 Patented Dec. 6, 1960 a line of partitions or so that one or more partition panels can be secured thereto and the otherfsides finished with closure strips. The cross sectional detail of the partition "post is so devised that an end thereof, for "example, the bottom end, may readily receive and retain .in sliding-engagement a fitting which in turn adjustably receives an extension leg with the extension leg aligned with the central hollow circular core area of the post.

"Partitions formed with the partition post disclosed herein as the joining member between adjacent panels meetthe necessary requirements of structural soundness, free-standing ability and adaptability to individual locations as Well as the desirable characteristics of being readily "assembled tothe partition panels or disassembled and rearranged at will.

With the foregoing and other objects in view which will appear as the description proceeds, the invention resides in the"combination and arrangement of parts and in the details of construction hereinafter described and claimed, it being the intention to cover all changes and. modifications of the example of the invention herein chosen for purposes of the disclosure, which do not constitute departures from the spirit and scope of the invention.

The invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawing, wherein: v v

Figure l is a horizontal section of the partition post and anadjacent attached partition panel and broken lines illustrate additional partition panels attached thereto.

Figure 2 is a section of a portion of the partition post and adjacent partition panel with parts broken away and parts in cross section; and

Figure 3 is a horizontal sectional view of the partition post looking downwardly substantially as suggested by the line 33 of Fig. 2.

By referring to the drawing it will be seen that the partition post comprises an elongated metal member having four similarly shaped equally spaced corner sections 10A, 19B, 10C and 10D. Each of the corner sections 10A, 10B, 10C and 19D is joined to the other by an singularly disposed inwardly extending web 11A, 11B, 11C and 11D. The innermost ends of the webs 11A. 11B, 11C, and 11D are joined by a circular core 11.. which has a longitudinally extending opening 13 in one side thereof.

Thew'ebs 11C and 11D are of greater length than the webs 11A and 11B and arranged at a different angular disposition with respect to the corner sections 106 and 10D so that a wiring raceway 14 is defined between the corner sections and 10D and the webs 11C and 11D.

The wiring raceway is in actuality a deep Wide channel communicating with the side of the partition post, and the other three sides of the post have channels 15. 16 and 17 formed therein by the disposition of the webs 11C, 11A, 11B and llD. I

Each of the cornersections 10A, 10B, 10C and 10D has oppositely disposed inwardly facing secondary channelsformed longitudinally therein in oppositely disposed relation to one another, the secondary channels being indicated by the numerals 17A, 1713, 18A, 18B, 19 A, 19B, and 20A and 203, respectively, so that a closure strip 21 can be slidably engaged in the 'opp'o'sitelydisposed channels 178 and 18A, for example, so as to close the main channel 16 existing between the corner sections 10A and 10B and defined by the Webs 11A and 11B.

These secondary channels in the corner sections also provide means for the attachment of partition panels tothe post.

As best seen in solid lines in'Figure 1 or the drawing. a portion of a partition panel 22"riiaybe seen asformed or a cenumrmateriarha'ving surface sheets 23-23 bonded thereto and a channel member 24 secured to a vertical.

edge thereof with a cutaway portion in the cellular material providing access to the back wall of the channel member 24. A panel attachment strip 25 having offset flanged end portions 25A and 25B is arranged to nest against a side of the post in abutting relation to the corner sections B and 10D, for example, as shown in Figure 1 of the drawing, and may be retained in such position where the flanged offset ends 25A and 25B overlap the surface sheets 23-23 of the partition panel 22 when a plate 26 is slidably engaged in the oppositely disposed secondary channels 18B and 19A, for example, in the corner sections 10B and 10D and a bolt 27 positioned through apertures in the plate 26, the panel attachment strip 25 and the channel member 24 and the assembly is secured together as by a nut 28.

It will thus be seen that a partition panel may be secured to any of the four sides of the partition post through the expediency of the panel attachment strip 25 and the plate 26 and that as many as four partitions may be secured to a single post or one such panel may be so secured as illustrated and the other sides of the post filled with closure strips 21,

Broken line illustrations in Figure 1 of the drawing show alternate or additional positionings of partition panels 22 onto additional sides of the partition post.

The bottom end of the partition post receives a leg mounting bracket 29 as shown in cross sectional installed detail in Figure 2 of the drawing. The leg mounting bracket 29 comprises a substantially square plate having four equally spaced upturned arms 29A29A, each of the upturned arms 29A being formed parallel with one side of the plate 29.

Still referring to Figure 2 and to Fig. 3 of the drawing it will be seen that when the leg mounting bracket 29 is positioned on the bottom of the partition post, the upper ends of the arms 29A-29A are within the general confines of the primary channels 14, 15, 16 and 17 and have slidable engagement with the wall portions of said channels so that the leg mounting bracket is held against rotation.

The leg mounting bracket 29 has a central opening in which an internally threaded sleeve 31 is secured as by spot welding. The lower end of the circular core 12 rests on the uppermost surface :of the threaded sleeve 31. The sleeve 31 receives an adjustable leg 32, the lower end of which is provided with a foot 33 having a resilient pad 34 thereon. The leg mounting bracket 29, adjustable leg 32 and foot 33 are normally covered by a cross sectionally square sleeve 35 which is positioned about the lower end of the post assembly to conceal the adjustable leg.

By referring now to Figure 2 of the drawing it will be observed that the bottom edge of the partition panel 22 has a bottom channel 36 secured thereto with upwardly extending oppositely disposed parallel flanges 37 overlying the lower edge of the surface sheets 23-23 of the partition panel and oppositely disposed inturned depending flanges 38-38 which provide a raceway 39 facilitating the positioning of wiring along the bottom of the partition panel 22.

It will be observed by those skilled in the art that wiring so positioned may be conveniently extended into the wir-. ing raceway 14 in the partition post and thus making it possible to provide lighting and signal wiring, for example, through the partitions incorporating the partition post disclosed herein.

It will be observed that such wiring may be completely concealed in the partition and in the post and yet is readily available at various locations on the partition panels and the posts.

It will thus be seen that a simple and efiicient partition post has been disclosed in conjunction with partition paneling and attachment means by which free-standing partitions may be formed which meets the several objects of thelinvention.

It will be observed in particular that the unusual structural features of the partition post enable the same to form a rigid structure incorporating numerous advantages, as hereinbefore set forth, and it will occur to those skilled in the art that the adjustable leg 32 may be provided with a floor flange (not shown) in place of the foot 33 and resilient pad 34 and the same bolted or otherwise secured to a floor surface whereby the partition post may be permanently attached to the supporting floor and held rigid vertically with respect thereto due to the novel arrangement by which the adjustable leg 32 engages the central hollow core 12 of the post.

It will thus be seen that the several objects of the invention have been met by the post for free-standing partitions disclosed herein.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is:

l. A partition post for use in a free-standing partition with one or more partition panels and comprising an el0ngated member having a central hollow core and a plurality of radially and circumferentially spaced similarly shaped longitudinally extending corner sections joined to one another by inwardly extending webs integrally joining said central core, said corner sections and webs defining longitudinally extending primary channels in said partition post, secondary longitudinally extending channels formed in oppositely disposed relation in the sides of said corner sections, said secondary longitudinally extending channels adapted to receive elongated closure strips and apertured rectangular plates slidably therein, a mounting bracket at the lower end of said post having a threaded opening centered with said hollow core, the lateral extremities of said bracket having upturned arms slidably engaged with certain of the wall portions of said primary channels, and an adjustable post supporting floor member, and a threaded shaft extending upwardly therefrom having threaded engagement with said bracket opening and projecting into said hollow core whereby to render said post and said member relatively rigid in any required position of adjustment.

2. In a free-standing partition, a rectangular post comprising an elongated member which, in cross section, consists of a central core with a plurality of radial webs terminating at their extremities in corner sections that define the rectangular limits of said post, each of said sections being of substantial lateral proportions and having channels opening at right angles to each other, one channel of each section being directed and opening toward the corresponding channel of the next adjacent section, said corner sections and said webs defining large outwardly opening channels on all sides of said post, a plate slidably inserted into opposed channels of adjacent corner sections, a panel attaching strip, a central offset portion on said strip projecting into one of said outwardly opening channels and serving to longitudinally align said strip with said post, means securing said strip to said plate, a bracket at the lower end of said post, said bracket having a centrally threaded opening, upturned arms defining four sides of said bracket, said arms projecting into corresponding channels at the sides of the post defined by the corner sections and radial ribs whereby to seat said post on said bracket and prevent relative displacement, and a floor member having a threaded shaft engaged with the threaded opening of said bracket and being rotatable with respect to said bracket to effect adjustment of said post in a vertical direction.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 466,012 Seaman Dec. 29, 1891 562,175 Edwards June 16, 1896 651,367, Lanz June 12, 1900 651,368 Lanz June 12, 1900 1,161,780 McClelland Nov. 23, 1915 (Other references on following page) 5 UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,610,754 Rastetter July 7, 1925 2,736,403 Koenig et a1. July 10, 1934 2,765,886 P avlecka Nov. 2, 1937 5 Slleck Aug. 22., 1944 46,280

Kran'tz Apr. 18, 1950 6 Inskeep Sept. 16, 1952 Gwynne Feb. 28, 1956 Tedaldi Oct. 9, 1956 FOREIGN PATENTS Switzerland Feb. 26, 1909 

